Marking apparatus.



W. J. DIX.

MARKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1905..

PATBNTED JAN. 23, 1906.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed July 10, 1905- Seria1No.269,009-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. DIx, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milford, county of VVo'rcester, State of Mas- Sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Marking Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for marking articles, and is particularly designed for the marking of the parts of a shoe so as to identify all parts belonging to the same size of shoe by a similar mark.

Heretofore it has been common in the manufacture of shoes tomark each part of a given size with a numeral by hand, using a crayon or similar instrument for that purpose. It has also been the custom to some extent to mark the parts of a given size by painting thereon a color, a different color being used for each size.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which the color system of marking may be used, and whereby the de sired color may be applied to the Various parts neatly with a minimum expenditure of color ing material and with speed and accuracy. The apparatus also allows for the Simultaneous marking of several parts, whereas heretofore each part has been marked separately, requiring a separate handling thereof. The apparatus herein illustrated is especially designed for this purpose, and in the form illustrated it is designed for making use of six colors in marking shoe parts, size 6 being indicated by red, size 7 by white, size 8 by blue, size 9 by yellow, size 10 by green, and size 11 by brown, for example, a duplication of the mark being used to indicate the respective half-sizes. This operation of marking the parts of an article, such as the parts of a shoe,

is for the purpose of having each separate part put into place-correctly, allowing it to be done quickly, because the operator handling the parts can readily see during the course of construction whether the parts employed by him are all of the right size or not from the color indication.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and will be particularly set forth in the appended claims.

The drawings represent a preferred form of the apparatus designed for the application of six colors, such as hereinbefore referred to.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the cover in place. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the cover partially broken away on the right-hand side. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the cover partially insection and with the hand-adjusting wheels removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the rotary markers. Fig. 5 is a side, elevation of a portion of one of the rotary markers, indicating one of the absorbent faces in position.

A separate tank is provided for each color, and for compactness of arrangement the tanks are shown as arranged in two rows of; three each. The frame of the apparatus is indicated at A, having the front portion A lower than tanks B B B B B B. The tanks are shownas connected together, for convenience, to form one framework, which sits inand rests upon the frame A. Mounted in each tank is a rotary marker C. For convenience the markers in one row of tanks are all fastened on a single shaft D, journaled in bearings in the lower portion of the frame A and the markers for the second row of tanks are mounted on a similar shaft D, journaled in bearings in the upper portion of the framework A. The markers may be of any suitable form and, as Shown, comprise four projecting arms 0. At the peripheral face ofeach arm 0 is fastened a piece of suitable absorbent material E. In using paint as the marking material this absorbent material E may be made of felt-and held in place by being clamped between duplicate sections of the marker 0 C Hand-wheels F F are provided on the shafts D D, respectively, for turning the shafts. The opposite ends of the shafts are squared off or formed of polygonal shape, corresponding to the number of marker-arms, and springs G G are mounted on the framework to press against the flattened faces of the shafts, whereby they are held in rotary adjustment. A suitable cover H is provided to fit over the entire tankframe and keep the contents thereof free from dirt and in proper condition. This cover is provided with apertures over each rotary marker through which the periphery thereof projects. Small auxiliary covers K for these the rear portion A and serves to support the apertures are pivoted to the main cover and are turned aside, as indicated at dotted lines at K, when the apparatus is in use.

In operation the tanks B are filled with the paint or other marking material, and the lower portion of the periphery of the markers rest therein and take upon their absorbent faces the marking material. The markers are then turned by the hand-wheels F F until that portion of the periphery loaded with the marking material is presented through the cover-aperture. The operator then takes the shoe parts or other articles and touches the edge thereof against the periphery of the marker, causing a small portion of the paint or marking material to be left upon the part being marked. The operation is repeated until the marking material on the absorbent face has been used up, when the hand-wheel F or F is turned to bring a new portionof the periphery or a new face of the marker into position through the aperture.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

-1. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided With an absorbent periphery mounted in each of said tanks to present a portion of its periphery above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting each of said markers to bring a fresh portion of its periphery above the surface of the marking material, means for retaining each marker in its adjusted position.

2. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided with an absorbent periphery mounted in each of said tanks to present a portion of its periphery above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting each of said markers to bring a fresh portion of its periphery above the surface of the marking material, a cover for said apparatus presenting openings for the projection therethrough of the periphery of each of said markers and removable from the tanks and markers.

3. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of difierent colors, a rotary marker provided with an absorbent periphery mounted in each of said tanks to present a portion of its periphery above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting each of said markers to bring a fresh portion of its periphery above the surface of the marking material, a cover for said apparatus presenting openings for the projection therethrough of the periphery of each of said markers, auxiliary covers for each of said openings.

4. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided with an absorbent periphery mounted in each of said tanks to present a portion of its periphery above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting each of said markers to bring a fresh portion of its periphery above the surface of the marking material, a cover for said apparatus presenting openings for the projection therethrough of the periphery of each of said markers, auxiliary covers for each of said openings pivoted to said main cover.

5. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material 1 of different colors, a rotary marker provided with a plurality of absorbent faces mounted in each of said tanks to present one of its faces above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting said markers.

6. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided with a plurality of absorbent faces mounted in each of said tanks to present one of its faces above the surface of said material, means for rotarily adjusting said markers, means for locking each of said markers in adjusted position.

7. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided with a plurality of absorbent faces mounted in each of said tanks, to present one of its faces above the surface of said material, a cover for said apparatus presenting openings for the projection therethrough of the exposed face of said markers.

8. A marking apparatus comprising a series of tanks for containing marking material of different colors, a rotary marker provided with a plurality of absorbent faces mounted in each of said tanks, to present one of its faces above the surface of said material, a cover for said apparatus presenting openings for the projection therethrough of the exposed face of said markers, means for rotarily adjusting said markers and locking the same in adjusted position.

9. In amarking apparatus,a rotary marker, comprising a wheel-frame, presenting a polygonal periphery, a shaft therefor, strips of absorbent material, means for clamping said strips on said frame to project beyond the periphery thereof, and present a series of absorbent faces.

10. In a marking apparatus, a series of tanks, for containing marking material of different colors, a second series of tanks above one mounted in each tank, and each provided with an absorbent periphery, means for rotarily adjusting each of said markers, means for retaining each marker in its adjusted po-.

sition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. DIX. Witnesses:

J. (J. McKiiNNA, FRED E. W001). 

